Page 60 of Killer Honeymoon

“Now that I’m thinking about it,” Alex said, “Gary was the last person I saw Todd talking to before he disappeared.”

“Disappeared?” Sawyer asked. “Sounds ominous.”

Alex chuckled. “I didn’t mean to imply something sinister had happened. I just meant they left together. One minute, Todd and Gary were sitting next to the bar and appeared to be in the middle of a deep conversation, and the very next, both men were gone. At least Gary had only been drinking water at the time, so he didn’t stiff us.” Alex looked longingly at the plate of appetizers. “Anyway, I think it’s likely Gary offered Todd a place to stay.”

“Really?” Sawyer said.

“Yeah, the two of them were part of the poker foursome you’re hoping to join.” Alex took a breath. “Well, threesome now.”

“Someone left the island?” Royce asked, pretending he hadn’t heard about Lester Moore.

“No,” Alex replied. “Todd’s former employer, Lester Moore, was found murdered on his boat.”

“Murdered?” Sawyer and Royce asked in unison.

Royce forced himself to shudder as if the mere notion made him quake. “Is Todd a suspect?”

Alex shrugged. “Maybe, but I heard they made an arrest already.” The other bartender called Alex’s name, and he turned to give the man a thumbs-up. He squared his shoulders and took a deep breath. “I guess I better get back to work.”

“Oh, man,” Sawyer said. “We didn’t mean to take up your entire break.”

“It’s okay,” Alex said. “If I’d gone someplace quiet, it would’ve made it harder to return to the bar.” He dropped his gaze to the plate of food again. “Maybe one cheese stick?”

Royce pushed the plate toward him. “Take as much as you want.”

Alex smiled and took two cheese sticks. “It’s unlikely the poker game will continue at this point, but I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Put-in-Bay.”

“Oh, we will,” Royce assured him.

The food had started to cool off and lost some appeal, so they asked Cecily for a takeout container when she stopped by with another round of beer. They’d accomplished their objective and decided one more adult beverage wouldn’t hurt before reporting what they’d learned to Chesterfield.

“To husbands,” Sawyer said, tilting his bottle forward.

Royce clinked his beer against Sawyer’s. “To beginnings.”

They kept their eyes locked on one another while taking a drink.

“To happily ever after,” Sawyer said.

Royce reached across the table and cupped Sawyer’s cheek. “To fatherhood.”

Sawyer’s smile wobbled. “To road trips that don’t lead to murder.”

“Hear, hear.”

They’d just taken another drink when Officer Lowell appeared at their table, looking as if he’d seen a ghost.

Royce went on immediate alert. “Something wrong, Lowell?”

The man nodded. His lips moved, but no words came out. He closed his eyes, swallowed hard and said, “Chief sent me. There’s been another murder.”

“Who is it?” they asked in unison.

“I’ll let the chief fill you in,” the young officer said.

Royce wasn’t sure if that was out of respect or because Lowell was too rattled to converse.

“We just need to settle our bill,” Sawyer said, flagging Cecily down before Lowell could reply.